Feb. 21st, 1885. 
396 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
THE 
(Srdjiir (faxabam dalmimr. 
The Propagation of Phalsenopsis. —Ihave never 
known an instance of root propagation such as is describ¬ 
ed and illustrated in The Gardening World, at p. 364. 
Most Orchid-growers have seen instances where shoots 
have made their appearance through the potting 
material, in such genera as Cypripedium, for example, 
but I have little doubt that such shoots would always 
be found on careful examination to proceed from some 
outlying or partly detached piece of rhizome. The 
cases of conversion of flower-buds into shoots are 
common and well-known, as is the production of 
flower-shoots from nodes on peduncles. The case 
in question, unless it be a mere “ luxus natural” 
multiplying rare kinds, what lovely baskets of 
Phalsenopsis could be produced in time by inducing 
the roots to produce young plants and leaving them 
all together to bear their flower-spikes. Again, as 
Phalsenopsis have never been suspected of multiplying 
in this manner until quite recently, may not other 
Orchids be amenable to the same treatment as a 
means of reproduction. If so, Orchid-growers may 
now have a double interest in their plants. The plan 
is well worth trying on all kinds of Orchids, as the 
experiments are sure to be interesting.— J. B. 
Odontoglossum crispum. — I note with pleasure 
the admirable illustration of one of Dr. Paterson’s 
plants of this charming Orchid, which you give at 
p. 377, but observing that it has a very much branched 
spike, very different from those usually seen, I should 
be glad to learn if this particular plant always flowers 
with a branched spike, or if not, may any 0. crispum 
Masdevallia Tovarensis.— Can you tell me the 
cause of leaves of this plant falling o2 ? My plants 
have made a good growth and flowered profusely, but 
many of the leaves turn yellow and die off. I have 
noticed the same thing in other collections. I have kept 
them in a temperature of 55 degs.— A Constant 
Reader. —[A temperature of 55 degs. is quite warm 
enough for this Masdevallia, but a low temperature 
will undoubtedly have the effect described, and it is 
possible your house may some night have got below 
this minimum. The leaves will also drop off if the 
plant is kept in small close houses and given too 
much water, but cold is the most fertile cause of the 
mischief.—Ed.] 
Lycaste Skinneri. —Reference was made in The 
Gardening World of February 7th, p. 364, to a 
giant form of Lycaste Skinneri, with flowers “over 
5 ins. across,” sent by Mr. J. Cypher of Cheltenham. 
OSMUNDA JAPONIC A COIiTMBIFEBA (see p. 388). 
deserves careful examination by a competent botanical 
observer. It certainly would seem to indicate the 
necessity of some modification of the accepted physio¬ 
logical views of the nature and functions of the fleshy 
roots of Orchids.— Trevor Lawrence, 57, Prince's 
Gate, S.W. 
I have never met with an instance of Phalaenopsis 
propagation by the roots. The note of “ A. F. L.” on 
the subject at p. 364 is very suggestive. I have never 
succeeded in germinating seeds of Phalasnopsis, though 
I have several times had fine pods, which ripened to 
all appearance, the first and finest which I ever had 
being in 1868. It was on a P. amabilis fertilized in 
1867.—IF. Davies, Gardener to Holbrook Gaskell, Esq., 
IVoolton Wood, Liverpool. 
The most interesting paragraph on this subject, 
with illustration at p. 364, from A. F. L., who, I see 
by the report of the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Scientific Committee, is Major Lendy, whose varied 
collection of Orchids at Sunbury has been often 
mentioned, opens up a new phase of Orchid culture. 
Apart from the value of such means as a method of 
by good culture be made to do so ? The wonderful 
spike of flowers on the plant illustrated I should cer¬ 
tainly have taken for O. Pescatorei, had not your artist 
so cleverly rendered every detail of the flower, even on 
so small a scale, as to leave no doubt as to its being 
the true O. crispum (Alexandras), which you happily 
and truthfully designate “ The Favourite Orchid.”— J. 
The Flowering of Phalsenopsis. —The month 
of February is not generally considered to be favour¬ 
able to the production of fine floral displays, yet those 
who grow a collection of Phalasnopsis may, for two or 
three months at this season of the year, enjoy such a 
floral treat as, perhaps all things considered, cannot 
be produced at any other season of the year. We have 
had a nice display of these since early in November, 
and have been cutting almost daily. This morning I 
counted over 550 blooms open of P. amabilis, P. inter¬ 
media, P. Schilleriana, and P. Stuartiana ; our best 
spike of P. Stuartiana carried fifty blooms. This 
species, I think, bids fair not only to rival but to 
completely outdo the gorgeous P. Schilleriana.— J. 
Jacques, Malvern, February 11th. 
We have a plant here of Lycaste Skinneri, growing in 
an 8-in. pot with numerous flowers and buds, and 
some of the flowers measure 7 ins. across, and the 
sepals 2 ins. wide. We grow them in a cool house, 
the temperature of which seldom exceeds 50 degs., 
they require a good supply of soft water when in a 
healthy condition, and occasionally liquid manure 
will assist them to plump up their bulbs. I am 
surprised this beautiful Orchid is not more generally 
grown by amateurs, being so cheap and so easy of 
cultivation. It flowers, too, during the dull season of 
the year, which makes it the more valuable, and its 
flowers last in perfection a month or six weeks.— 
W. Driver, Longfords, Mincliinhampton, Glos. 
-*i-,- 
Saceolabium illustre. —This beautiful Orchid 
has been in flower for a considerable time, and is 
certainly a plant of sterling merit. The raceme is 
gracefully arohed downwards, as is usual in the genus, 
and the numerous flowers are white with delicate 
purple spots. The lip is purple, with veins of a paler 
colour. It seems to be a fairly robust grower. 
